On May 29, 2009, the White House announced that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will host the tenth Group of Twenty (G20) Summit this coming fall. On September 24-25, the heads of state of major developed and developing economies will meet at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, in downtown Pittsburgh, to discuss the current global economic situation. The work of the Pittsburgh Summit will build on the agreements made previously at the London and Washington, D.C. Summits, focusing on international trade and financial institutions, in order to promote economic recovery and growth.
The selection of Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania in general, highlights the importance of our region as an engine of national economic prosperity and as a center of connections to established and emerging international markets. Historically a city known for its steel industry, Pittsburgh is now home to a burgeoning financial and technological center. Despite the national economic downturn and a decrease in jobs, Pittsburgh managed to achieve job growth in 2008. In 2007, Pittsburgh was named “America’s Most Livable City” by Places Rated Almanac, and was ranked as one of the best cities for young professionals to live in by Forbes in 2008. Due to its location, Pittsburgh also benefits from important commercial and technological connections with global markets.
The G20 summit will deal with subjects that are both timely and relevant to the mission goals of the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council (MARBC), to further international cooperation and development efforts by making use of the Mid-Atlantic region’s resources and historical ties. Given the recent developments in Russian-American relations – the Presidents’ Summit held in Moscow in July 2009 and subsequent creation of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission – this is a particularly important moment for dialogue and cooperation in the fields of diplomacy and business. To emphasize the significance of our region in promoting international cooperation, in conjunction with the G20 activities, the MARBC will organize a Russian-American innovation technology program dealing with cooperation in the field of emerging technologies and entrepreneurship.
For further information about this upcoming event, please contact Val Kogan, President of the MARBC, by phone at: (215) 708-2628, by mobile phone at: (484) 467-7444, or by e-mail at: val@ma-rbc.org or visit the MARBC website: http://www.ma-rbc.org.
About the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council. Since 1994, MARBC has worked to foster business relations between Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, while cultivating mutual appreciation of political, economic, cultural, and educational interests. The goal of MARBC is to enable companies based in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region to enhance their positions in Russia and the CIS and to attract Russian businesses to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.
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